Child marriage, a formal or informal union involving a person below the age of 18, is an infringement upon internationally agreed human rights, diminishing young people’s ability to realize their rights to education, health, quality of life, safety and dignity. Child marriage rates in Zambia are some of the highest globally, but increasing action from the Zambian government and international organizations is leading to improvements in legal protection and changes in beliefs around child marriage.
Child marriage exposes girls to a range of challenges, including an increased risk of HIV transmission, domestic violence and maternal and infant mortality. Furthermore,
early marriages can prevent girls from finishing their education, limiting their ability to reach their potential in the future. For these reasons,
Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 aims to end child marriage by 2030.
The
rates of child marriage in Zambia are among the highest in the world, predominantly affecting young girls. Although rates have fallen somewhat, in 2018, 44.4% of
women in Zambia aged 20 to 29 were married as children.
Child Marriage in Zambia Falls Under Three Categories:
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Marriages between two adolescents, usually between the ages of 11 and 14.
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Intergenerational marriages in which an adolescent girl marries an older man, often twice her age.
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A tactical child marriage which is made in an attempt to avoid disgracing the family due to situations such as teenage pregnancy.
Poverty and Child Marriage
One of the biggest driving forces behind the high rates of child marriage in Zambia is poverty, a challenge that affects
60% of the population. Families marrying their daughters off in Zambia receive a lobola payment or a ‘bride price’. Consequently, a marriage can provide a family with vital income and the means to support other children through education. In this way, poverty and child marriage form a vicious cycle.
As aforementioned, the
economic gain from child marriage can often push impoverished families into child marriages. However, the deprivation of education and employment opportunities created by child marriages perpetuates poverty. A UNICEF study from 2015 identified a clear link between higher child marriage rates and the lack of access to education and employment opportunities. These processes create an intergenerational cycle of poverty and young marriages.
Legal Discrepancies
Zambia’s legal system does not currently function in a way that can support ending child marriages. The country adheres to both statutory and customary laws, creating discrepancies and uncertainty around legal protections. According to statutory law, the 1964 Marriage Act states that marriage is only legal for those over the age of 21, although a person below this age may marry with parental consent. Statutory protection is insufficient to prevent child marriage, however, as the law does not specify a lower threshold at which parental consent cannot allow a marriage to take place. Furthermore, statutory law enables a high-court judge to grant consent for a child under the age of 16 to marry.
Customary laws determine the legality of marriage by the time at which a child reaches puberty, rather than a specific age. Statutory law states that nothing in the official Marriage Act impacts the validity of a marriage carried out in accordance with customary law. As a result of these vague and contradictory laws, there is insufficient legal protection for girls who reach puberty. Instead, girls who begin menstruation, usually around the age of nine to 13, often undergo an initiation ceremony where they receive education about marriage, caring for a husband and looking after a home.
Ending Child Marriage in Zambia
UNICEF and the
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) joined forces in 2016 to launch the Global Program to End Child Marriage, focusing on the 12 countries with the highest rates of child marriage. Zambia has been the focus of much of UNICEF and the UNFPA’s work. A 2017 report from the UNFPA recommended an approach to efforts to end child marriage in Zambia.
Firstly, efforts need to respect and incorporate different community values and systems across Zambia. This is particularly important when addressing customary law, as this is a key part of many communities’ histories. The UNFPA suggested efforts should start by aligning customary laws to an amended Constitution based on a clearer definition of marriage that states it as an act only lawful between two consenting adults. It suggests that customs and traditions around marriage may change over time through education campaigns focused on the impact that early marriages can have on children. Secondly, efforts must prioritize the safety of and care for adolescent girls, primarily through efforts to keep young girls in education. Some of the main reasons that young girls leave education and end up married are poverty, social vulnerability and teenage pregnancy.
According to the report, the creation of financial incentives for poor families to keep their daughters in school could overcome issues presented by poverty. Education campaigns, as well as the creation of ‘safe spaces’ for girls both in schools and in communities, could lower social vulnerability. Finally, lowering rates of teenage pregnancy requires long-term planning to improve sex education and reproductive health services across Zambia.
A Zambian Community Case Study
The UNFPA-UNICEF Global Program to
End Child Marriage has supported the Zambian government-led Community Welfare Assistance Committee (CWAC) in the Zambian regions of Katete and Senanga. This approach focuses on the two points raised above: sensitivity to varying community values and safety for young girls.
Based on a USAID approach used to engage Zambian communities in HIV/AIDS prevention, this project to minimize child marriage uses community-based workers who understand the community and already have their trust. This allows the CWAC approach to be appropriate and targeted. Community workers with the CWAC look for signs of vulnerability and identify risk factors for young girls. Once they have identified those in need of help, workers bring in a network of community members to support the family and engage in discussions around their child’s wellbeing.
In 2020, there were 140 trained CWAC workers across Katete and Senanga. In this same year, the project helped 49 girls across the two regions avoid premature marriage. Although there is currently limited data to assess the impact of this project fully, CWAC workers have already had a positive influence on the communities they have been working in, as evidenced by the number of girls saved from child marriages.
Caring for Survivors of Child Marriage in Zambia
According to suggestions, preventative measures addressing child marriage must coincide with efforts to support survivors to overcome the barriers that they face. World Vision International followed
the story of Tichoke, a girl from Zambia who married when she was only 14. Tichoke’s older husband mistreated her and she struggled to provide for her new family. Amid her struggle and facing little support from her parents, Tichoke reached out to some local counselors, supported by World Vision Zambia. With their help, Tichoke escaped her marriage and went back to school. As of 2019, Tichoke was in grade 9 and was hoping to work as a nurse when she graduated.
For child brides like Tichoke, their families’ decisions needn’t be the end of their goals and aspirations.
As part of the 2020
U.N. Women program, the Zambian government established a scheme of giving scholarships to survivors of child marriage in an attempt to encourage them back into education. Not only would this sort of scheme benefit the victims of child marriage, but it could lead to a significant increase in the country’s productivity and output. A 2017 World Bank study estimated that Zambia could increase its GDP by USD 68.2 million by ending the practice of child marriage.
The Future of Child Marriage in Zambia
Zambia continues to have some of the highest rates of child marriages in the world. However, international efforts such as the UNFPA-UNICEF program and increasing action from the Zambian government suggest that the country is heading in the right direction. Alongside general poverty alleviation support, a focus on mitigating factors and caring for survivors spark hope in the fight against child marriage in Zambia.
– Polly Walton
Photo: Flickr
Forest conservation for Food Security in West Papua
Deforestation in Indonesia
Indonesia has historically had “the highest deforestation rates in the world.” The deforestation is largely due to land clearing to expand palm oil and other mono-crop plantations, an industry that national government policy encouraged. Despite the majority of Indonesia suffering major forest cover loss over the last two decades, the impacts of the oil palm industry have only recently reached the doorstep of Indonesia’s easternmost provinces of Papua and Papua Barat, known together as West Papua.
West Papua, which makes up the Indonesian half of the island of New Guinea, is covered in swathes of pristine and highly diverse tropical rainforests. The region has remained relatively untouched during Indonesia’s period of deforestation, with primary forests still covering 83% of West Papua’s land area. However, with available land in Sumatra, Java and Kalimantan becoming increasingly scarce, cleaning of the sections of the West Papuan forests has begun.
Changing Diets in West Papua
This land clearing is set to have an especially severe impact on West Papuan communities given the high level of poverty in the area and their reliance on the forest as a source of food. West Papua is the poorest region in Indonesia, with 28% of people living in poverty in the province of Papua and 23% in Papua Barat, as of 2018.
Forests have traditionally been an important source of food for the indigenous communities of West Papua. Traditionally, indigenous communities would forage and hunt in the forest for foods such as sago, wild bush meats and fresh legumes. These bush foods help form a diverse and micronutrient-rich diet that is high in vitamins. Bush foods like this have been shown to be a huge factor in maintaining healthy diets in countries all over the world and are a critical factor in current food security in West Papua.
Unfortunately, recent land clearing and plantation expansion in West Papua has already resulted in a shift in the diets of some local indigenous populations. Without easily accessible forests, local communities living in cleared areas have turned to more easily accessible food sources, namely store-bought goods. As a result, diets in these communities have transitioned away from traditional forest foods and towards ultra-processed foods like rice, instant noodles, tofu and biscuits. This dietary transition is now fuelling an increase in the already high rates of poverty, malnutrition and food insecurity in the region.
The Manokwari Declaration
In the fight to prevent further deforestation of West Papua’s unique and important forests, local governments have committed to large-scale conservation targets. Unfortunately, new plans to carve up the two existing provinces into five may undermine the validity of the recent Manokwari Declaration, putting the people and forests of West Papua back into jeopardy. The rationale from the government for this redrawing of boundaries is to speed up development and increase economic equality. However, some claim that previous instances of remapping have in fact served the elite rather than the poor.
In the current context of changing provinces, the local governments may need support to maintain the validity of the Declaration. However, despite the threats to its existence, the Manokwari Declaration still represents the first step in preserving West Papua’s forests, and thus protecting health, nutrition and food security in West Papua.
– Amy McAlpine
Photo: Flickr
Uncertainty Over Cameroonian Refugees in Antigua
The Flight from Cameroon
Several thousand miles away from Antigua, across the Atlantic, a bloody six-year civil war is happening in Cameroon. At the end of last year, 900 Anglophone Cameroonians bought flight tickets from Nigeria to Antigua to escape the conflict. Many have paid human traffickers as much as $6,000 in return for safe passage to the United States and assistance with their visa applications. Instead, the traffickers abandoned refugees in Antigua.
The debacle followed an attempt by the government of Antigua and Bermuda to establish an air route between Central Africa and the twin island nation. After four charter planes and 900 unexpected refugees in Antigua, the government decided to suspend all incoming charter flights from Central Africa and announced its intention to repatriate those who had already come. It has since reversed its repatriation plan citing humanitarian reasons.
The Economic Situation in Antigua
The people of Antigua are more accustomed to welcoming tourists rather than asylum claimants. It is unclear how the presence of hundreds of Cameroonian refugees in Antigua, most of whose funds have been spent on charter flights, affects the communities with limited resources.
The overall rate of poverty in Antigua and Barbuda is high but it is 5% lower than the regional average of 23%. The rate is even higher among the young: 24% of children aged 0–17 and 25% of adolescents aged 10–19. Severe poverty is projected to increase in the Eastern Caribbean nation amid the continued fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Irma, which devastated the nation in 2017. According to figures gathered by UNICEF, the rate of severe poverty in Antigua’s overall population is due to rise sixfold up to 24%. For children, the projected figure is even higher at 29%.
Refugee Reception in Antigua
Local reports say that residents have shown hospitality to the Cameroonians despite the high poverty rate in the country. Governor General Sir Rodney Williams has stated that the government will look after the African refugees in Antigua. He said that Antigua was “committed to protecting all residents from exploitation and harsh treatment” and that “no foreign national, except for criminals, should fear deportation.”
Antigua’s Information Minister has promised a skills audit to “determine the benefits” of permitting the refugees in Antigua to stay. Melford Nicholas announced that “as the economy continues to expand, we’re going to need additional skills.” He also said that Antigua would provide the asylum seekers with accommodation and “find a way to give them legal status here.” He also expressed the hope that Antiguans would “embrace and have an open heart” to the Cameroonians. The government played down speculation of plans to offer passports to the arrivals after opposition parties voiced alarm. The United Nations (U.N.) is also planning an analysis of the situation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to determine the number of refugees in Antigua who wish to remain permanently.
What is Next?
With poverty as a serious and increasing problem in the Caribbean island, no one could have expected the arrival of 900 Cameroonian refugees in Antigua. While many of the refugees move on, some could end up settling in the country. It is expected that once the government’s skills audit is complete, the remaining Cameroonians will be free to contribute their skills to Antigua and improve its economy.
– Samuel Chambers
Photo: Pixabay
Composting Initiative in Kibera
Due to its geographical location on the outskirts of Nairobi, access to jobs, such as working in markets can be difficult, especially for women. Many families rely on casual labor to pay for basic amenities, such as food, water and rent. Poverty levels are extremely high within Kibera and life expectancy is only 30 years old.
A Composting Revolution
Kibera produces roughly 230 tons of food waste a day. Recently, The Advocacy Project gave some funding to a small seed of an idea – a composting initiative in Kibera. Led by Stella Makena, the program, Shield of Faith, involves 15 women who have turned food waste into compost using worms. It aims to reduce pollution and improve livelihoods and nutrition in Kibera.
Collected food waste goes into these recycled plastic paint containers and red worms turn this food into fertilizer known as leachate. The worms ingest and break down the food waste into useful nutrients. This is a much more sustainable solution to putting food waste in a landfill where it creates methane, one of the biggest contributors to climate change. It’s also better than leaving food scraps out on the streets, which is unhygienic and can attract animals and diseases.
Improving Livelihoods and Creating Sustainable Produce
The benefits of the composting initiative in the Kibera project are numerous. Not only does it reduce the amount of food waste, as well as reusing plastic containers, but it also creates a product that can be sold. Branded as Lishe-Grow (Grow-Nutrition), Shield of Faith sold 124 liters of its worm leachate at the annual fair of the Agricultural Society of Kenya. It also set up a model kitchen garden, according to The Advocacy Project. Half of the proceeds went directly to the women ($186), with the other half going into a joint bank account.
Furthermore, the leachate can be used to grow fresh vegetables for families in Kibera. This can not only provide fresh, healthy produce to improve nutrition but can reduce food bills and be sold for further income. Stella, for example, now grows 40% of her vegetables and has reduced her food costs by one-fifth. Many members have made space for kitchen gardens in their small settlements, growing green vegetables and strawberries. The organization is currently making plans to provide kitchen gardens for those members who currently lack the space.
Bringing Compost to the Next Generation
The composting initiative in Kibera has now started expanding into schools. Excitingly, Shield of Faith has also been officially registered by the government. It has recently been spreading awareness by demonstrating the benefits of composting at Project Elimu, an after-school initiative that around 1,000 students from 40 different schools attend. There, it constructed a kitchen garden out of old wooden shelves and plastic tubing, training over 300 children to plant and grow seeds, according to The Advocacy Project.
Now, it hopes to focus its efforts on schools themselves, which produce a large amount of food waste. Shield of Faith hopes to appoint ambassadors and educate the students about other concepts such as carbon credits.
The team sets high goals, with the aim of composting 3 tons of food waste this year and to also expand beyond Kibera, perhaps also building partnerships with schools in the Global North. Shield of Faith is showing that a simple idea can be powerful and transformative in so many ways.
– Ottoline Spearman
Photo: Flickr
The Slums of Mumbai: A World Inside a World
Trade and Business
Dharavi, Mumbai’s largest slum settlement, has a remarkably diverse and active business sector. Hundreds of thousands of people engage in this thriving world of trade from innovative producers to keen buyers. There are around 5,000 businesses that generate over $1 billion in total revenue. The successes of these businesses ensure a stable, healthy and happy lifestyle not just for slum residents, but for the poorer Indian community as a whole.
The innovative trade of recycling, specifically talented craftsmen turning recycled goods into all manner of things, plays a significant role in the slums thriving business sector. Dharavi recycles around 60% of Mumbai’s plastic waste and this business employs up to 12,000 people. From the manufacturing process to product making, the recycling business in Dharavi provides jobs and opportunities for people of all skill sets.
Other industries such as leather and textiles enable further trade both externally and within the borders of the slums. From goat and sheep skin, talented textile artists are able to make various leather products that find use locally and all the way up to high-end fashion, with global brands like Giorgio Armani utilizing the leather goods!
There are around 300 bakeries in Dharavi that mainly specialize in papadom making. This provides both stable incomes for the bakers (women can earn up to 100 rupees) and food for local residents. The benefit of providing food is particularly important as food can be scarce in the Mumbai slums, as reported by Global Citizen.
Art
Art acts as an important contributor to the cultural influence the slums have. Amazing street art is littered all around the slums of Mumbai that depict the realities of slum living. Sassoon Docks, for example, is a thriving street art center known for the artists’ collaboration with local fishermen, their environmental activism and their embodiment of Mumbai’s fishing traditions. Artwork like this has attracted tourists, writers and photographers from all over the world, enriching the slum’s cultural impact.
The Mumbai slums are also a musically gifted place. A Hip-Hop culture that has now been present for more than a decade has dominated the music scene in the slums of Mumbai. Hip-Hop artists such as Dopeadelicz and SlumGods have all had success in India’s rap scene. Artists like these have helped Indian Hip-Hop grow and expand the cultural influence of the Mumbai slum music scene.
Sport
Slum golf is a recent phenomenon that has taken hold in the slums of Mumbai. As the name suggests, it is golf that people play within the narrow alleys and pathways of the Mumbai slums. Golf would usually be an inaccessible, “rich” sport in the eyes of slum residents but with just clubs and a ball, golf enthusiasts are able to play the game they love.
Cricket, as with most of India, is an integral part of the day-to-day life of slum residents. And their love for the sport has created a vibrant culture of cricket. Many leagues within the slums have been set up, and this has given access to people with varying abilities to play. Street cricket (with improvised rules) is also massive in the slums. For instance, hitting out of the playing area means you are out as you have lost the ball!
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenging living conditions in Mumbai’s slums, a vibrant world exists within, filled with innovative businesses, captivating art and a passion for sports. The bustling trade sector generates significant revenue, employing thousands and benefiting the entire community. Art and music add cultural richness to the slums, attracting global attention. Additionally, slum residents find joy in unique sports like slum golf and cricket, fostering a sense of community and providing opportunities for all skill levels. The slums of Mumbai defy stereotypes, showcasing resilience, creativity and a spirit of determination.
– Max Steventon
Photo: Flickr
Artificial Intelligence Benefits and Its Potential to Build a Better Future
By ethically using the power of machine learning and analytics, AI can complete administrative and automotive tasks. It can also make informed decisions, and cater to individuals who are typically underrepresented in communities. Artificial intelligence benefits has the potential to transform our society by improving education systems, health care and environmental sustainability.
Education
One of the main advantages of AI is its ability to create personalized learning plans for students. AI can collect data and analyze a student’s learning style and performance. It does this based on students’ response time and the types of questions they get correct. Data can be used to customize curriculums that are tailored for individual students.
A “one-size-fits-all” approach is what most education systems use today because it is unrealistic to expect a teacher to create a custom plan for every student in their classroom. Challenges are presented with this education system, though. Many students do not find the current approach engaging. In fact, they actually find that it hinders their learning experience. Personalized learning can help resolve issues that higher education institutions face, such as dropout rates and overall lack of motivation.
In Pakistan, the educational platform Maqsad creates personalized educational content for students, catering to their specific needs through data analysis. This digital learning has been embraced when its need surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Artificial intelligence benefits education systems inside and outside of the classroom. At Staffordshire University in the U.K., an AI chatbot provides personalized answers to questions regarding university services and other support. This allows professors and campus staff more time to handle other administrative tasks. It also allows them to collect data on what individuals are confused about to better serve their student population.
Environmental Sustainability
Artificial intelligence benefits have the potential to facilitate environmental sustainability in many ways. Energy consumption, agriculture, manufacturing and resource management can improve with the help of AI technology.
When it comes to energy consumption, AI can optimize energy usage in buildings, transportation systems and manufacturing processes. The technology does this by using predictive analytics to manage the supply and demand chain of energy and stop carbon pollution.
In agriculture, AI can help predict weather patterns that would impact crops. It can reduce the use of fertilizer and water, two resources that, when used in large quantities, could harm the environment and ecosystems.
In Africa, advanced technology is being used to optimize agriculture and improve crop yields through “Digital soil mapping.” Digital soil mapping uses spatial data to predict the soil’s capacity to provide quality resources such as crops. It also identifies any deficiencies the soil might have, such as harmful aluminum toxicity.
By leveraging AI and machine learning, companies and communities can make data-driven decisions that have positive impacts on the environment and their businesses.
Health Care
Artificial Intelligence can improve patient outcomes with personalized treatment plans, medical imaging, decision-making and much more. It is documented that reviewing medical records and recording notes can take up to more than half a physician’s time. The use of AI language technology can free up time for medical practitioners by transcribing their meetings and inputting data into medical software. AI can also help diagnose patients by asking them a series of questions and analyzing their symptoms to provide accurate medical explanations.
In India, 70% of health care services operate from the private sector, which makes access to adequate health care extremely difficult for those living at or below the poverty line. AI-based technologies are being used to detect diseases and diagnose patients. One company, SigTuple, is developing a system that can analyze blood samples to detect abnormalities and diagnose diseases like tuberculosis.
These AI systems can help resolve the medical inequalities faced by people living in poverty. It can also uneven the ratio of doctors to patients in impoverished communities, as well as improve the overall efficiency of public health care.
Mental Health
Mental health is another area in which artificial intelligence benefits many people. A study conducted by the University of Southern California found that individuals suffering from PTSD and other mental illnesses are more comfortable speaking with virtual programs because of the fear of being judged. This could help advance mental health services by initially having patients speak with AI technology and then taking those answers and providing them with the best care.
Moving Forward
Based on recent trends, artificial intelligence can be beneficial to society when used correctly. In places like Pakistan, India and Africa, artificial intelligence and advanced technology models have already led to progress in areas of education, environmental sustainability and health care. And the positive outcomes suggest that there is room for even more progress.
–Kellyjohana Ahumada
Photo: Pexels
Child Marriage in Zambia
Child Marriage in Zambia Falls Under Three Categories:
Poverty and Child Marriage
Legal Discrepancies
Ending Child Marriage in Zambia
A Zambian Community Case Study
Caring for Survivors of Child Marriage in Zambia
The Future of Child Marriage in Zambia
– Polly Walton
Photo: Flickr
How USAID is Providing Aid in Sudan
Sudan has entered a new period of civil conflict, throwing an already delicate humanitarian situation into a full-blown crisis. As the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fight for military control in the streets of Khartoum and across the country, more than 330,000 Sudanese civilians have experienced internal displacement since April 15. However, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other organizations are providing aid in Sudan and making a difference.
The Situation
More than 100,000 people have fled the country and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that the number will rise to more than 800,000 as the crisis continues. Neighbouring countries Chad and Egypt, have each welcomed tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees seeking aid.
Before the conflict, the North African nation was already struggling to provide sufficient food and medical care to support its citizens. More than 16 million people, approximately one-third of Sudan’s population, relied on some form of humanitarian support before the conflict began. Unfortunately, the process of getting foreign aid across to those in need could become even more challenging due to the conflict. Port Sudan along the coast of the Red Sea is the only available entry point for aid into Sudan according to the International Committee of the Red Cross Africa. The epicenter of the humanitarian crisis is in the Darfur region, which is difficult to reach due to security concerns.
Restarting Aid in Sudan
Many foreign aid actors suspended their humanitarian activities in Sudan when the conflict broke out in Khartoum on April 15th, due to active fighting and the closure of the country’s borders. The World Food Programme (WFP) lifted its temporary suspension on foreign aid activities on May 1 after three staff members were killed in North Darfur when the fighting began. The WFP has stated that it will distribute food assistance in Al Jazirah, Gedaref, Kassala and White Nile.
However, humanitarian access will remain limited in the most impacted regions of Darfur, Khartoum and Kordofan. USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration coordinate with multiple United Nations aid organizations to bolster food security and humanitarian aid in Sudan. Partnering with the WFP, USAID/BHA assisted approximately 1.1 million people in Sudan with emergency food and nutrition assistance in February 2023.
The U.S. agency delivered about 45,000 metric tons of American-sourced Sorghum to Sudan between November 2022 and April 2023 to support critical food shortages in the country. USAID has also worked with UNHCR and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide water, sanitation and hygiene assistance in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as dengue and malaria. Partner agencies have improved access to clean drinking water in conflict-impacted areas and have provided hygiene awareness sessions.
Opening Pathways for Aid in Sudan
The United States Government has demonstrated a commitment to supporting humanitarian aid efforts in Sudan amidst the violent civil conflict. The government has pledged $162,511,131 to USAID programs to support its humanitarian aid in Sudan for the fiscal year 2023. This funding comes in the form of financial aid to various U.N. partner agencies that provide food and medical aid to people in need all throughout the country.
U.S. State Department officials are in ongoing negotiations to open up additional avenues for humanitarian aid to Sudan. Envoys representing both warring factions have traveled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as part of “pre-negotiation talks” mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Neither military faction has shown a willingness to negotiate an end to the conflict, but there are considerations regarding reaching a humanitarian truce. U.S. officials are cautiously optimistic that the two sides can reach an agreement to allow additional humanitarian aid to reach Sudan. However, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland has stated that the U.S. is willing to apply economic pressure to the parties “depending on how talks go.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the ongoing civil conflict in Sudan, international aid organizations, including USAID, are working tirelessly to provide critical assistance to those affected by the crisis. While the situation remains challenging, the lifting of suspensions on aid activities and the commitment of the U.S. government to support humanitarian efforts offer hope for improving the dire conditions in the country. Negotiations for a potential humanitarian truce provide a glimmer of optimism, with the possibility of opening up pathways for additional aid to reach Sudan.
– Jeremy Rosen
Photo: Flickr
Lithuania: a Small Country with the Highest Suicide Rates in Europe
The Mast of the Issue
The country’s suicide rate is the highest in Europe, with around 23 suicides per 100,000 residents each year, compared to the European average of around 12.
According to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in California, mental health illnesses can cause and contribute to poverty. Left untreated, they can lead to poor quality of life, incarceration, substance misuse, homelessness, disability and suicide.
The main reasons for suicide are losing the meaning of life, enduring circumstantial challenges such as financial problems, the death of a loved one and, most importantly, mental illnesses. According to Eurostat statistical data, about 7% of Lithuanians experience chronic depression. Unfortunately, Lithuanians tend to avoid reaching out to mental health specialists, so the number may not be totally accurate.
How Hospitals Manage Mental Health in Lithuania
According to the National Library of Medicine, there are some positive aspects of Lithuanian health care, but minuses are also noticeable.
Currently, these aspects are lacking:
Mental Health Issues Among Genders
Although men who live in rural areas and are less educated commit suicide more often, women attempt to take their own lives more frequently. During the coronavirus pandemic, Lithuanian women also reported feeling worse emotionally than men. This issue in Lithuania and other countries was linked to unequal household responsibilities, which made enduring the pandemic more challenging for women. Additionally, suicide rates among prisoners and detainees are several times higher than the national average.
Children and the Unfortunate Situation
According to a WHO survey, Lithuania is one of the European countries with the highest rates of bullying in schools, affecting almost one in three Lithuanian teenagers. It’s worth noting that more boys than girls reported both being bullied and bullying others.
Fortunately, Lithuania has recognized the issue of bullying and there are numerous programs focused on its prevention. Teachers and parents are encouraged to have discussions with their children about the topic. Additionally, “Vaikų linija” (Eng. “Child Line”), a hotline for young people seeking emotional support, has been operating since 1997. Its activity is based on voluntary work, with about 400 volunteer consultants. In 2021, volunteers answered 105,785 calls from children, which accounted for 72% of the total number of calls received.
Although young people can call and chat about their hardships, the volunteers of the NGO claim that most children express thoughts of suicide.
The Good News
Although the coronavirus pandemic, high inflation rates and the ongoing war in Ukraine have negatively affected mental health in Lithuania, specialists still see a light at the end of the tunnel. According to a survey by the Lithuanian company “Spinter Tyrimai,” the mental health among adults in Lithuania returned to pre-pandemic levels last November, with 60.4% of people reporting good psychological well-being. This was likely due to Lithuania’s loosened restrictions on human contact.
Since seeking psychological healthcare can be expensive, Lithuanians can obtain long-term help at crisis centers. Women in need of short-term emotional help can turn to “Pagalbos moterims linija” (English: “Helpline for Women”), while men can seek assistance from “Vyrų linija” (English: “Men’s Line”). Emotional support can be obtained through phone calls, emails, or anonymous online chats.
“Pagalbos moterims linija” has been working since 2003 and receives over 26,000 calls yearly. In contrast, “Vyrų linija” started its activity only in 2020 when mental health and well-being among people decreased. During the first two months, specialists from this helpline provided over 200 hours of consultation to men.
These efforts and trends are suggestive of progress and a more positive future where Lithuanians have access to support systems that make them less likely to resort to suicide.
– Agnė Jankauskaitė
Photo: Flickr
The Dangerous Journey of Migrant Boats in the Mediterranean
Who Migrates
The majority of migrants are coming from the north and subregions of Africa but migrants from the Middle East and Western Asia have also increased since 2022. Young adult men make up a majority of migrants but in 2019, 40 percent of those coming in on migrant boats are women and children.
In 2020, an estimated 12.3 million migrants, about 4.4% of the international migrant population, were from Northern Africa. They often flee political instability caused by conflict and economic and environmental conditions, such as desertification in the Saharan region. Europe is the nation 48 percent of migrants from North Africa choose as the ideal emigration destination. Migrants from other regions also choose Europe for a multitude of reasons.
The Dangers
The Missing Migrants Project (MMP) has estimated that over 26,000 migrants have either died or gone missing since 2014 on their journey across the Mediterranean. Around 600 migrants are either dead or missing in just April of 2023.
There are different routes that migrant boats take across the Mediterranean, but all of them face dangerous sea and weather conditions over a long journey. The central route, which crosses from North Africa to Italy and Malta, is the deadliest path in the world, with more than 12,000 remains being found in this channel. The western and eastern routes are less deadly but still face hazardous conditions.
The route is dangerous outside of the crossing, with many migrants from North Africa having to cross the dry and dangerous Sahara desert before they even start to ford the Mediterranean Sea. Migrants have to be wary of criminals and authorities from both their home countries and their destination countries.
Migrants continue to face struggles and danger even after reaching their destination. Border fences in Spain have caused many deaths as migrants attempt to scale them. Even when migrants get to Europe there are no promises of relief and many succumb to ailments due to lack of health care.
The Experience with Danger
Europe is the closest and most accessible region via migrant boats despite the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean. It is also a wealthy region with relative political stability, and these qualities enable migrants to find jobs more easily.
Additionally, European countries provide benefits to asylum seekers and refugees because the Geneva Convention recognizes asylum as a right. They seek the EU because of the “open borders and freedom of movement” abilities.
Those on migrant boats are also subject to rescue privileges with a better chance of gaining asylum because of the dangerous conditions at sea. However, this has caused an increase in dangerous sea missions, as migrants would purposefully sink their boats in an attempt to get attract rescue efforts.
The Reaction
Migrants must pass through southern European countries such as Greece, Italy and Turkey where they live on the streets. These countries are often more hesitant about the number of migrants because of the massive amounts of numbers they receive.
Italian governments have tried to slow down their intake of migrant boats by signing a deal with the Libyan government to “combat… irregular migration [and] human trafficking and strengthen… border security.” However, this caused an increase in refugees stuck in detention camps, where they face dangerous conditions and even torture.
Malta has also been dealing with an influx of asylum seekers and refugees. They have refused to help a migrant boat with 400 immigrants on board despite the fact that the boat was “adrift and taking on water.”
Northern European countries and other entities have criticized both Malta’s and Italy’s responses to the increase in migrant boats. However, the southern European countries are at the forefront. They deal with hundreds of migrants showing up at their beaches, where they live on the streets until they “head to more prosperous” countries.
What Is Being Done
The droves of migrant boats landing on the coasts of southern Europe have caused the European Commission and other organizations to update their protocols on immigration.
The European Commission proposed a “package of seven pieces of legislation” in 2016 to accommodate for the increased number of immigrants entering the EU. The legislation would create a “fair and humane asylum policy.” So far, five of the seven pieces have been passed and more policies have been proposed.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has set up the Missing Migrants Project to track the number of missing and dead migrants from the Mediterranean crossings. The IOM and MMP work in policy guidance and strategy for countries that deal with an influx of migrants. The IOM has worked to safely return 1.7 million immigrants to their respective home nations since 1979 and has helped 67 countries with the development fund.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is working in over 20 locations to protect and aid refugees and provide “shelter, food, water and medical care” to those who arrive in Europe.
– Kathryn Kendrick
Photo: Flickr
Strategies to Eradicate Tuberculosis
Being the world’s leading infectious disease, impacting a quarter of the population, TB claimed the lives of more than 1.6 million people in 2021, according to WHO. Even though TB is present in all countries and in all age groups, it is curable and preventable.
Understanding TB: Most Affected Countries and Why?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia are most susceptible to TB. There are many reasons why some countries have higher rated of TB infections than others:
These factors combined make it extremely difficult to screen for TB in low-income countries and most people do not have access to medical facilities, and those who do, are unable to use them because they cannot afford to.
The Fight Against TB
There have been many strategies to eradicate TB in LMCs and one of the most recent and most impactful has been the WHO’s End TB Strategy “to reduce TB incidence by 50% and mortality by 75% by 2025,” according to The Lancet Global Health. Through a multi-step initiative, WHO aims to eradicate TB by 2035.
Looking Ahead
In the fight against tuberculosis, significant strides have been made through initiatives like the WHO’s End TB Strategy. Vaccination efforts targeting children and teens have proven effective, while a newly-developed vaccine for adults shows promise in preventing the progression of TB. These advancements offer hope in reducing the incidence and mortality rates of this infectious disease, bringing us closer to a world free from the burden of tuberculosis.
– Vahisté Sinor
Photo: Flickr